191 Chapter 4. Fodder value of Poaceae family species in the steppe zone of Ukraine B. O. Baranovsky, L. O. Karmyzova, I. А. Ivanko Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Introduction 1 Poaceae is one of the largest families of vascular plants. It has about 10 thousand species and 700 genera. Members of the fam- ily are spread worldwide. They often participate as dominants and edificators in composition of vegetation cover in grassy types of the Earth vegetation. Members of Poaceae family hold an important position within other plants (food, feeding, medicinal, industrial), useful for mankind. Poaceae are among the ten most widely represented families in all areas of the world. Participation of Poaceae, as well as other monocotyledonous plants decreases with the distance from the most East to moderate, and to equatorial latitudes (Tolmachev, 1974). Within the territory of Ukraine Poaceae family includes 71 gen- era (of which only 4 genera in the cultural state) and 208 species; of which only 15 genera are in the cultural state (Determinant of Higher Plants of Ukraine, 1987). Long-term anthropogenic influence on the territory of the steppe of Ukraine has led to a significant transformation of native vegeta- tion. Nowadays, there is a significant reduction in species and ceno- tic diversity of ecosystems, in most of which the members of Poaceae family (grasses) dominate. 1 Baranovsky B. O., Karmyzova L. O., & Ivanko I. А. (2019). Fodder value of Poaceae family species in the steppe zone of Ukraine. In: Current problems of agrarian industry in Ukraine. Accent Graphics Communications & Publishing, Vancouver, Canada. – P. 191–227. Doi:10.15421/511905 192 Chapter 4. Fodder value of Poaceae family species in the steppe zone of Ukraine According to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on conducting the state accounting and Cadastre of flora in accordance with Article 38 of the Law of Ukraine “On fauna” and to the rati- fication by Ukraine of the International Convention on Biological Diversity at the initiative of the Ministry of environment in 2000 initiated the establishment of the State Plants Cadastre of Ukraine. It should serve as a scientifically substantiated basis for effective preservation and reproduction of phyto-diversity, rational use of re- sources of various plant groups. Grasses usually play the leading participation in herbaceous vegetation types. Many of them are edificators of steppe, meadow, mountain-meadow, mountain-steppe and other types of herba- ceous phytocenoses. Most grasses are characterized by a wide eco- logical amplitude and occurs in several, or in many plant formations (Prokudin, Vovk, Petrova, 1977, Koreliakova, 1977). Grasses can also be used in phytoindication (Didukh, 1994; Dubyna, 1993). The main food plants of mankind belong to grasses are soft wheat (Triticum aestivum), rice (Oryza sativa) and corn (Zea mays), as well as many other crops (Zhukovsky, 1964). Usage of grasses as a forage plant for domestic animals is no less important. Economic value of grasses is also various in many other respects. Many grasses are also used in ornamental horticulture as lawn plants (Golovach, 1963; Abramashvili, 1970, Mytsyk, 2005, Lisovets, 2000). Grasses are also used for fixing mobile sands, various kinds of embankments, mine dumps (Shine,1956). Some grass species containing aromatic substances used in per- fumery, food industry and medicine. In our country, the most fa- mous species Seneca grass (Hierochloe) and sweet vernal grass (An- thoxanthum) contain coumarin, which is used to flavor for different beverages. Industrial application of grasses are also very various. Grasses have some negative effect, but it is completely incompa- rable with their benefits. Among the grasses, there are many weeds of different crops which cause significant damage. Especially it is B. O. Baranovsky, L. O. Karmyzova, I. А. Ivanko 193 applicable to wheatgrass, bromegrass, loose silky bent, bristle grass, barnyard grass, annual hairgrass. Grasses of the ruderal complex are competitors of forest stands at the creation of forest plantations in steppe (Belgard, 1950). Grasses are specially important as fodder plants for domestic animals (Shennikov,1941, Larin, 1956). Members of Poaceae family are the main components of natural hayfields and pastures on the territory of the steppe zone of Ukraine, especially of different types meadows and steppes (Prokudin, Vovk., Petrova, 1977). Materials and methods of the survey The objects of the survey were representatives of Poaceae family in flora of the Steppe zone of Ukraine. Floristic surveys were carried out using common botanical methods, herbarization and identification of plant species (Manual of Plants of Ukraine, 1965, Skvortsov, 1977), as well as special meth- ods for aquatic flora study (Katanskaya, 1981). Species determination was carried out using “Manual of Plants of Ukraine” (1965), “Determinant of higher plants of Ukraine (1987), “Flora of the USSR” (1935–1965), “Flora of the European part of the USSR” (1974–1989), “Flora of Eastern Europe” (1996–2004) using microscopes MBS1 and Cytoval. The list of species was compiled by based on the own collec- tions, study of the herbarium of the Department of geobotany, soil science and ecology of DSU, comprisal of flora of the Prisamarya 1986 and 1988; the list was presented in alphabetical order (in Lat- in alphabet). Ecological certification of species was based on the Ecomorphs classification of O. L. Belgard (1950), which is the first ecomorphic system of vascular plant (Baranovsky et al., 1978). Ecological certifi- cation of plants was compiled with the use of literature: “Manual of Plants of Ukraine” (1965), “Flora of the USSR” (1935–1965), “Flora of the European part of the USSR” (1974–1989), “Flora of Eastern Europe” (1996–2004), “Macrophytes – indicators of environmen- 194 Chapter 4. Fodder value of Poaceae family species in the steppe zone of Ukraine tal pollution,1993”, monographs Would. O. Baranovsky (2000), V. V. Tarasov (2005) and V. V. Kucherevsky (2004). To establishment of the species ranges the following literature was used: “Manual of Plants of Ukraine” (1965), “Flora of the USSR” (1935– 1965), “Flora of the European part of the USSR” (1974–1989), “Flora of Eastern Europe” (1996–2004), “Horology of the flora of Ukraine” (1986), works Y. D. Kleopov (1990) and A. І. Kuzmichev (1992). Latin species and genera names are given on the latest nomencla- ture floristic edition of S. Mosyakin and M. М. Fedoronchuk (Mo- syakin, Fedorochuk, 1999). Results In the steppe zone (Northern subzone) Ukraine Poaceae family amounted 149 species (Table 4.1). Table 4.1. – Ecomorphic characteristics of members of Poaceae family Name of plant Tropho- Hygro- Helio- Ceno- No spesies morphs morphs morphs morphs 1 2 3 4 5 6 Aegilops cylindrica PsPt 1. OgMsTr MsX He Нost Ru Aeluropus littoralis 2. AlkTr Ms He Hal (Gouan) Parl. Agropyron 3. OgTr MsX He RuPs dasyanthum Ledeb. Аgropyron. lavrenkoa- 4. OgTr MsX He Ps num Prokud. Аgropyron pectinatum 5. MsTr X He St (M. Bieb.) P. Beauv. Аgropyron tanaiticum 6. MsTr X He Ps Nevski . 7. Agrostis canina L. OgTr Ms ScHe StSMnPs B. O. Baranovsky, L. O. Karmyzova, I. А. Ivanko 195 1 2 3 4 5 6 Аgrostis capillaris L. 8. OgTr Ms ScHe SilPr (A. tenuis Sibth.) 9. Аgrostis gigantea Roth MsTr Ms ScHe SilPr Agrostis maeotica Alk- 10. XMs He HalPs Klokov OgTr Аgrostis sabulicola 11. OgTr Ms He PrPs Klokov 12. Аgrostis stolonifera L. OgMsTr Hg ScHe PrPal Аgrostis vinealis 13. OgTr Ms ScHe StSMnPs Schreb. Аlopecurus aequalis 14. OgTr HgHel He PrPal Sobol. Аlopecurus arundina- 15. AlkMgTr HgMs He HalPalPr ceus Poir. Аlopecurus genicula- 16. OgTr HgMs He PalPr tus L. Alopecurus pratensis 17. MgTr HgMs He Pr L. Anisantha sterilis (L.) 18. MsTr MsX ScHe PrStRu Nevski Anisantha tectorum 19. OgMgTr MsX ScHe PsRu (L.) Nevski Anthoxantum odora- 20. OgTr Ms ScHe SilPr tum L. Apera spica-venti (L.) 21. OgTr XMs ScHe RuPs P. B e auv . Arrenatherum elatius 22. MsTr XMs ScHe SilPr (L.) J. et C. Presl. 23. Avena fatua L. MsTr MsX He Ru 24. Аvena persica Steud. MsTr MsX He Ru 25. Аvena sativa L. MsTr MsX He RuCul 196 Chapter 4. Fodder value of Poaceae family species in the steppe zone of Ukraine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beckmania erucifor- 26. AlkMsTr HgMs ScHe PalPr mis (L.) Host Botryochloa ich- 27. OgTrСа MsX He PtrSt aemum (L.) Keng Brachipodium sylvati- 28. MgTr Ms Sc Sil cum (Huds.) P. Beauv. 29. Briza media L. MsTr HgMs ScHe SilPr Вromopsis erectus 30. MsTr MsX He StRu (Huds.) Fourr. Bromopsis inermis 31. OgMgTr XMs He RuPrSt (Leyss.) Holub Bromopsis riparia 32. OgTr MsX He PrSt (Rehmer) Holub. 33. Bromus arvensis L. MsTr XMs He Ru Bromus commutatus 34. MsTr XMs He Ru Schrad. Вromus japоnicus 35. MsTr MsX He StRu Thumb. Вromus hordeaceus L. 36. MsTr XMs ScHe Ru (B. mollis L.) 37. Вromus secalinus L. MsTr Ms ScHe Ru RuPs 38. Bromus squarrosus L. OgMgTr MsX ScHe St Calamagrostis canes- SilPr 39. MsTr MsHg ScHe cens (Weber) Roth Pal Calamagrostis epigei- 40. OgMsTr Ms ScHe PsSilPr os (L.) Roth Catabrosa aquatica 41. MsTr Hel He PrPal (L.) P. Beauv. Cenchrus longispinus 42. ОgTr MsX He PsRu (Hack) Fernala B. O. Baranovsky, L. O. Karmyzova, I. А. Ivanko 197 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cleistogenes bulgarica 43. MsTr X He StPt (Bornm.) Keng Сleistogenes squarrosa 44. OgTr MsX He RuPs (Trin.) Keng Crypsis aculeata (L.) 45. AlkMsTr HgMs He HalPr Aiton Сrypsis alopecuroides 46. (Piller. et Mitterp) AlkMsTr HgMs He HalPs Schrad. Сrypsis schoenoides HalPs 47. AlkOgTr Ms He (L.) Lam. Pr Cynodon dactylon (L.) 48. AlkMsTr XMs He HalPr Pers. 49. Dactylis glomerata L. OgMsTr Ms ScHe SilPr Deschampsia caespitosa 50. MsTr MsHg ScHe SilPr (L.) P. Beauv. Digitaria aegyptica 51. OgTr MsX ScHe Ru (Retz.) Willd. Digitaria ischaemum 52.